COVID-19 Archives - Page 36 of 49

USDA sets coronavirus aid payments for corn, soy, wheat

By Reuters, GFM Network News May 20, 2020

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. farmers that grow crops including corn and soybeans will receive coronavirus assistance payments based on either half of their 2019 production or the supplies they had on hand as of Jan. 15, the government said on Tuesday. The coronavirus aid is the latest in a round of government payments that […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Livestock, Markets, Reuters

Trump floats halt to U.S. cattle imports as pandemic hurts ranchers

'We have a lot of cattle in this country'

By GFM Network News May 19, 2020

Washington/Chicago | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the United States should consider terminating trade deals under which it imports cattle as he looks to help U.S. ranchers hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak. The United States imports cattle from Mexico and Canada to supplement domestic supplies at lower prices and to […] Read more

(Canada Border Services Agency video screengrab)

General, Markets, Reuters

Canada, U.S. agree on extension for ban on non-essential travel

By Reuters, GFM Network News May 19, 2020

Ottawa | Reuters — Canada and the United States have agreed to extend a ban on non-essential travel between the two nations by another 30 days as part of the fight against the coronavirus, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday. U.S. and Canadian officials had said last week it was likely that the measure […] Read more

CME June 2020 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

Livestock, Markets, Reuters

U.S. livestock: Firm cash market lifts live cattle

Weaker pork prices, supply ideas drag on hogs

By GFM Network News May 16, 2020

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures closed higher on Friday, with the front contract gaining against back months, led by higher cash cattle prices, traders said. Cash cattle traded as high as $120/cwt in the southern Plains on Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said, up from trades a week earlier that ranged […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, Markets

Cattle producers facing a pandemic market

Options include being prepared to background steers, keep replacement heifers

By Jerry Klassen May 15, 2020

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve received many calls in regards to the market situation for fed and feeder cattle. The conversation usually starts with “What should I do?” This is a very difficult environment, to say the least. The shuttering of one major Alberta beef plant (as of late April) and reduced slaughter […] Read more

(Kraig Scarbinsky/DigitalVision/Getty Images)

Crops, Markets, Reuters

Packaged-food majors see sales spike in pandemic

Big brands may benefit from larger, more secure supply chains

By GFM Network News May 14, 2020

Reuters — General Mills on Monday said it saw record demand for its pantry staples, becoming the latest packaged food maker to see business spike during the COVID-19 pandemic, as homebound shoppers stocked up on comfort foods during lockdowns. The company joins Nomad Foods, Premier Foods, Nestle, Mondelez and other processed food makers, which have […] Read more

Certified beef cattle are pictured on May 13, 2020 at Rancho Estrada in the town of San Agustin, on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. (Photo: Reuters/Jose Luis Gonzalez)

Beef Cattle, Livestock, Markets, Reuters

More Mexican beef headed to U.S. dinner tables as supply crunch bites

"I think we're going to leap past Canada this year"

By GFM Network News May 14, 2020

Mexico City/Chicago | Reuters — More Mexican steaks and other beef cuts are headed north of the border after the coronavirus outbreak has hobbled U.S. meat processing plants, potentially offsetting fears of shortages affecting businesses from fast-food chains to grocery stores but angering U.S. ranchers. The Mexican industry chalks up the export growth to new […] Read more

A file photo of cattle mustering in Australia’s Outback. (Hypedesk/iStock/Getty Images)

General, Markets, Reuters

Australia requests China trade talks over beef, barley

By GFM Network News May 13, 2020

Sydney | Reuters — Australia’s trade minister is seeking urgent talks with his Chinese counterpart after key agriculture exports were hit with suspensions and tariff threats, but said Australia will continue to push for an inquiry into the COVID-19 outbreak. Trade minister Simon Birmingham requested a telephone call with Chinese commerce minister Zhong Shan after […] Read more

Livestock, Markets, Reuters

U.S. livestock: June live cattle limit up on soaring beef prices

Large supplies of hogs, cattle still loom over futures

By GFM Network News May 13, 2020

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures closed higher on Tuesday, with nearby contracts rising the daily maximum, as surging wholesale beef prices and expectations U.S. beef and pork production would drop spurred speculative buying, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) June live cattle futures settled up 4.5 cents, the expanded daily limit, at […] Read more

File photo of a quality control check on fresh peppers in a Canadian vegetable packing plant. (Jeffbergen/E+Getty Images)

General, Markets

Laid-off foreign workers may get conditional clearance for other jobs

Workers allowed to start new jobs while permits are processed

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News May 12, 2020

Approved temporary foreign workers (TFWs) whose jobs disappeared before they could begin work in Canada this spring can now get much quicker approval to start at other workplaces, including farms, where the workers are needed. The federal government said Tuesday it will, effective “immediately,” temporarily waive its rule requiring a TFW to receive federal approval […] Read more

GFM Network News

Canadian alpacas impress American judge at Agribition

U.S. grains: Chicago grains firm as traders gauge China purchases

U.S. livestock: Futures rally ahead of U.S. Thanksgiving

Tag Archives COVID-19